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Saturday, April 16, 2011

Magallanes, Sorsogon: Rediscovered

Magallanes is one of the 15 towns of Sorsogon province and a 4th class municipality. It is located at the southernmost tip of the island of Luzon which is about 48 kilometres from the Sorsogon City, the provincial capital, passing through two towns and a meandering road that snakes around Mounts Juban and Bintacan.

It's never an easy road to reach the place. Unlike other towns of Sorsogon, Magallanes is relatively isolated. "but definitely, going there is a great adventure," said Pinoy Traveler, a blogger who featured the town in one of his articles.

The rest of the journey is just lush tropical rainforest dotted by villages, schools and community churches.

Magallanes is a fishing town, popular for fresh and dried fish.

This is the place where I grew up, so please join me while I rekindle my childhood memories as I revisit some of the places of my little hometown,
....... MAGALLANES

The sun still shines in Magallanes.

To experience full view of sunrise, we need to wake up by 4am and forget the usual breakfast of Sinangag & Kusido (the favorite local version of Sinigang sa kalamansi) as we need to cross a sea to Bagatao Island and has to climb its highest peak.

To reach Bagatao's peak, one must conquer this steep stairway to heaven...

I mean, to Our Lady of Sta. Lourdes Grotto

this place is known to locals for its miracles.

Bagatao Island is also a haven for photogs.

Based on our interview with the locals, the bottom of this boat was made from layers of styrofoam while the outboard engine was converted from a press drill.

Some of our finds while exploring the shores of Bagatao

black pearl

nueve

While on our way to the other side of the island, we met these kids

Midway, we passed this wooden bridge connecting Pansud and Brgy. Behia. The beams were supported by the trunks of mangrove. People used to hike a mountain trail when this was not built then.

A little bit farther, we stopped on this historical site, the REAL ASTILLERO DE BAGATAO.

It is reputed to be the biggest Spanish shipyard in the whole Bicol Region where some of the biggest and most magnificent galleons during the Manila-Acapulco trade were constructed.

It is situated atop of this...

Oh, we almost forgot to take breakfast. We headed to a sari-sari store of a near village to have this simple...

Giniris at Kape

Our next stop should be the Parola, but due to time constraint, we decided to defer and instead holed up in this place while waiting for our banca...

playing like kids

oh, i love the clear waters

After rushing back to town, we had our merienda with these...

Sinapot

And we called it a day.

On the 2nd day, with our dubai-based journalists/friends we decided to roam around the eastern part of Magallanes

The daily catch of the easterners

Once again, we have to skip our fav breakfast with this...

and of course, with coffee.

Here are some more landmarks of the town...

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish

Belfry

Due to shortened vacation and plenty of activities, we weren't able to complete the whole picture of my town.

I hope next time, I'll be able to show more of the beauties MAGALLANES can offer.

This is so beautiful.Magallanes once again captured the hearts of many Bicolanas/Bicolanos.Hope to returned again there...I miss the warm sunshine and clear water...Thanks for the lovely photos.My family loved every detail and captions.